performed was his preaching the gospel to the poor. "Go, preach the gospel to every creature," was almost the last sentence that fell from his gracious lips previous to his ascending up on high, and leading captivity captive.

To send the gospel to the destitute is a debt we owe to our country, as good citizens. The population of our country is rapidly increasing, and our exertions to promote their spiritual interest should increase in proportion. Those tribes which have hitherto been the terror of our country,-the histories of whose cruelties are enough to chill one's blood,-by the evangelizing influence of the gospel may become our brethren. What lover of his country, what philanthropist, what good citizen, but would desire such an event as this? To aid in sending the gospel to the destitute is a debt we owe our European brethren, who published the gospel to us. Before our country was free from the government of Great Britain, and during the revolutionary struggle, religion was in an exceeding low state in this country. Our European brethren sent to us the heralds of the cross. For the religious privileges we enjoy, we are, under God, indebted to them; and as we cannot repay them, let us pay our debt by sending the gospel to the destitute in our own country, and elsewhere.

In using our best endeavours to spread the gospel to all nations, we act in accordance with a vast body of Christians, of different denominations. There has never been a time since the gospel was first introduced among men, when the Christian world has felt such a lively interest in spreading its sacred influence and shall we stand, and look on, and see others engaged in so glorious a work, and take no part ourselves? Can we compose ourselves to an entire indifference, when the Macedonian cry is heard in every direction-"Come over, and help us.'

That it is our duty to turn our attention to the destitute of our own country, will appear, if we consider the encouragements they hold out to us. Here, even among the Indians, we have not to combat with idolatry, as among many other nations.They are exceedingly superstitious, but they are not idolaters. They believe in the Great Spirit, that he exercises a government over men, and that they are accountable to him. Here then that powerful barrier which exists among all the heathens of the east, exists not.

Look, moreover, at the success which has already attended the exertions of missionaries. "Can these dry bones live ?" is an inquiry very natural to one who casts his eye over the moral state of many of the Indian tribes. The best answer that can be given to this question is to recur to facts. In numerous instances, while the Christian prophet has prophesied to them in the name of the Lord, bone has come to its bone-they have been

clothed with sinews and flesh; and God has breathed into them the breath of life, and already a great army has been raised up. To God be all the glory!

The propriety of publishing the gospel to the destitute will appear, if we consider that in this way we may be instrumental of enlarging the Redeemer's kingdom, of causing joy among the angels in light, and of saving a multitude of sinners from eternal perdition. This argument will have weight with all who believe in a free salvation, and that God often saves men by means of

men.

Although salvation is not exclusively confined to the preaching of the gospel, nevertheless the preaching of the gospel is God's most ordinary and effectual means of salvation. What a powerful motive this! He that shall be the means of " converting a sinner from the error of his ways, shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins." "He that winneth souls is wise, and shall shiné as the stars in the firmament, for ever and for ever." Amen.

BIOGRAPHY.

From the Wesleyan Methodist Magazine.

MEMOIR OF THE LATE MR. ROBERT SPENCE, OF YORK,

BY THE REV. A. E. FARRAR.

It is a subject of deep and unfeigned regret that so many of the fathers of our various societies, men whose lives teemed with incident,-whose characters were pre-eminent exemplifications of divine grace,-and their history connected with the rise and progress of the great revival of religion in the last century, should have retired from the church and the world to God, without leaving behind them those particulars of their experience which would have furnished to the present generation of Methodists the records of the first period of our existence as a connexion. One such man was he whose name stands at the head of these pages; but whose interesting story he has left to be compiled from observation and recollections, aided only by a very few documents which the partiality of friendship has preserved; for he could never be prevailed upon, probably for fear of being unawares betrayed to seek praise of men, to write much of himself. The principle must be approved; but the omission to which it necessarily gave rise in this case has deprived the church of a fund of edification and instruction.

ROBERT SPENCE was born at Stillington, near York, on the 8th of March, 1748, O. S. His father was a blacksmith, and died when Robert was only about sixteen months old-leaving

his mother, with the care of three children, in circumstances of great destitution. To the "sentimental" Sterne, who at that time, with the rectory of Sutton, held the living of Stillington, it is understood that Robert was indebted for the rudiments of a humble education. He certainly for some time filled a menial situation in the family of that eccentric clergyman; and from thence was recommended to a gentleman of rank in the neighbourhood, who took him into his stables, and in a few years made him his coachman: a post in which he continued, until, by the attainment of religion, he appeared to forfeit, with the favour of his master, his prospects for life; and in consequence of suffering for righteousness' sake, was led into that line of providential movement which raised him from the humble station of a servant in livery to the rank of a respectable citizen. So true it is that many of our greatest blessings take their rise in disappointments.

"At a very early period of my life," says he, in a small memorandum written upon his 64th birthday, "the good Spirit of God was very evidently and sensibly at work with me. When about seven or eight years old, my heart at several times was divinely impressed. Under these sacred softenings I shed many tears, and made many resolves. These continued until I was about thirteen, when I went into a family where God was not known, and then I lost all: I broke through all restraint, and became outwardly wicked. About the age of fifteen and a half I was powerfully awakened to a sense of my danger: soon afterwards I joined the Methodists, and became serious. On Easter Sunday, 1765, I received a sense of pardon. I then began to talk to all around me, and recommended religion with all my might. I was laughed at, and pronounced a madman. Some said, 'We shall see what he will be in two years:' about seven and forty have now elapsed since that period, and, having obtained help of God, I continue unto this day."

"The word of the Lord was precious in those days;" and had it been more frequently preached in its simplicity, the situation of our young friend appeared to have placed him out of its track; but, providentially, an elder brother had been introduced to the ministry of the gospel by the Methodist preachers, and became savingly acquainted with the truth as it is in Jesus; and to the instructions and warnings of this brother, principally conveyed by letter, for he was settled near Tadcaster, Robert owed, under God, his first powerful convictions. When he obtained mercy he was attending a member of the family in which he served at one of the churches in York; and while bearing her books behind her to the Lord's table, the merit of his dying Saviour was powerfully applied to his soul: the Lord was "made known to him in the breaking of the bread." Another young man, at that

time also in livery, (our late valuable friend, G. Clarke, of Whitby,) was soon afterwards awakened under the ministry of Mr. Murlin, and, becoming Robert's companion, he "strengthened his hands in God." He presently found the need of every assistance, for his Methodism alienated from him the affections of the family with whom he resided, and lost him his place; and when he subsequently applied for different similar situations, though his good character proved a ready introduction to his applications, yet as he made it a point of conscience to state, before a final agreement, his religious profession, he as uniformly ultimately failed. Our Christian denomination was at that period associated with every thing monstrous. This, though extremely painful at the time, he lived to perceive to be gracious prevention; for had he succeeded in his wishes, he had probably been shut out from that path of success which afterwards opened to him; and the snares attendant upon servitude in opulent families might have withdrawn him from devotedness to his divine Redeemer.

The most striking instances of the care of a particular Providence are furnished in the history of individuals. That the world is not abandoned to the sport of a blind chance, or governed by a mere mechanical agency, but by the immediate and constant interposition of the Divine Being, and that his peculiar attentions are devoted to his own people, are truths supported by powerful evidence. It is but trifling to object our comparative insignificancy; for when we consider the divine ubiquity, that "He filleth all in all," no object can be considered too minute for his attention: and He can with the same ease superintend "the excursions of an archangel and the flutterings of a bee," wheel the planets on their orbits, and direct the smallest corpuscle of blood that flits through the minutest vein of the most insignificant animalcule; and though many of his proceedings are deeply mysterious, their reference to an ultimate purpose, and reservation to a future explanation, silence doubts, and impose the "What I do thou knowest not now, most implicit resignation. but thou shalt know hereafter." Enough, however, is now known, to warrant the fullest assurance that, though "clouds and darkness are round about Him, justice and judgment are the habitation of his throne." "I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight"-is a promise descriptive of many of his dealings with his servants, and which, in the case of our deceased friend, was literally accomplished.

In the discouraging circumstances to which we have referred, be turned his attention to bookbinding; and his brother John, already mentioned, (and who himself afterwards became a re48 VOL. VIII. October, 1825.

spectable ironmonger and useful local preacher in Hull,) paid a small gratuity to a person in York to instruct him. This man, soon after the close of Robert's engagement to him, removed to London, and began business in the sale of old and second-hand books; and informed Robert, in whose welfare he seems to have taken considerable interest, that the concern was likely to prove a profitable speculation, and that, if he would make an attempt in the same line in York, he would send him a small quantity of books to enable him to commence. These were carried on a market day in a clothes basket, and sold in the street. From such humble beginnings did Mr. Spence rise to eminence as a bookseller! About the same time, a Mr. Hall, who had noticed his industry, and possessed confidence on his integrity, advanced him, as a loan, the sum of ten pounds,-one of the most unexpected and opportune favours he ever received, and which, under God, laid the basis of all his future prosperity. The providential history of Mr. Spence is the more particularly noticed, because he himself delighted to dwell upon the goodness of God displayed in it, and because it stands intimately connected with his conduct and usefulness as a Christian. The circumstances in which we are placed develope our character, and furnish many of the trials and comforts which enter into the details of our experience.

Nearly twenty years elapsed from his conversion to God, during which time he was made a class leader and local preacher in the Methodist society, before (to employ his own language) he "saw the way of faith more perfectly." This was in the year 1784, when York was favoured with the ministerial labours of the late Rev. Alexander Mather. Christian holiness was the favourite theme of this excellent minister, and to his preaching Mr. Spence attributed a greater conviction of its necessity, and belief of its attainableness. During a period of solemn impression upon this subject, "I seized," says he, in a letter to the brother before named, "the first opportunity of retiring into secret with the Lord. I there found a hearty giving up of myself to God, wishing him to take the entire government of me; and in this exercise I found much comfort: but it still remained to be made evident to me that God had accepted of my poor offer."

In some perplexity on this point he went to the preacher's house. Mr. Mather was on his circuit; but Mrs. Mather, a plain woman, of considerable scriptural information, became to him another Priscilla; and here he learned to claim the promise as his own, and expect the evidence in believing. Afraid of mistake, he artlessly interrogated, "Is this Methodism ?" It was replied, "It is old Methodism,-proved Methodism."

"I was pleased," says he, "with what was said; because I found that, if this was true, the blessing was within my reach: